5.d Car Mar comments Tii Gavo Marina Expansion _043019
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Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 7030 6th St. North Oakdale, MN 55128 T/ 651.770.8448 F/ 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com
memo
Project Name | Tii Gavo Development Date | 4/30/2019
To | Jim Shaver, District Administrator
Cc | Carl Almer, EOR
From | Mike Majeski, EOR
Regarding | Marine Boat Slip Expansion
Background The Tii Gavo Homeowners Association has requested to amend the development agreement established in 2007 to increase the number of existing boat docks from 19 to 29 slips in Painted Turtle Bay on Big Marine Lake. The CMSCWD, MNDNR, and other entities have provided comments on the proposed amendment. The new proposal, C19-007, will be review by the City of Scandia in May 2019.
Comments on C19-007 EOR’s understanding of the project is that a 900’ long channel was cut from Painted Turtle Bay to Big Marine Lake to afford lake access in trade for restriction on all lake-lot owners from altering the shoreline and having dock access on an individual lot basis. Original permit conditions included:
• CMSCWD Permit 16-019 – Provision 4 states a maximum of 19 slips allowed
• DNR Permit – Condition 19 limits the number of slips to 19 The MNDNR has recommended the City of Scandia deny the request to increase the number of boat slips in a letter dated July 20, 2018 per their original review of Permit #2006-0351. In a letter dated November 15, 2018, the CMSCWD Board supported the position of the DNR and also recommended that the City of Scandia deny the request for any increase in the number of boat slips, stating the following:
• “The addition of any additional boat traffic will certainly lead to a decrease in water quality. It
is well established that motorized boat traffic in shallow lakes with a soft bottom structure re-
suspends phosphorus from the bottom sediments and leads to an increase in algal blooms”.
• “Additional boat traffic will also lead to the destruction of additional native plant communities
and the establishment and spread of aquatic invasive species.”
• “More boat traffic will disrupt the natural habitat of amphibians and turtles and the spawning
areas of fish.”
• “The impacts will not only effect Turtle Bay and its surrounding wetlands but they will be
detrimental to the entire lake.” EOR supports the comments provided by the MNDNR and CMSCWD Board and agrees that the proposed increase in the number of boat slips from 19 to 29 may incur negative impacts to the flora and fauna of Painted Turtle Bay, as described below: 1. Increasing the number of boat slips will have a direct impact on the aquatic macrophyte community around the existing dock through removal and/ or herbicide treatment of the native plants growing within the footprint of the proposed dock expansion area.
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Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc.
7030 6th St. North Oakdale, MN 55128 T/ 651.770.8448 F/ 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com
Subsequently, any reduction in the aquatic plant community would reduce available habitat for fish and invertebrates, and reduce photosynthesis and productivity in the bay. 2. Long-term suppression of the native macrophyte community along the buoyed channel and lake connection through plant harvest and/or herbicide treatment may create favorable conditions for the establishment of invasive species, particularly Eurasian water milfoil which is present in Big Marine Lake. 3. Any increase in boat traffic through the buoyed channel of Painted Turtle Bay and the connection to Big Marine Lake may increase sediment disturbance by motorized boats, potentially increasing resuspension of phosphorus and other nutrients into the water column. An increase in boat traffic could also disturb any nesting birds within Painted Turtle Bay and along the channel to Big Marine Lake, particularly those species that construct nests on floating vegetation such as grebes and loons.